Rotary drilling tool



2 Sheets-Sheet l flagelizzwixggl,

Aug. 6, 1940.

B. F. WALKER, SR

ROTARY DRILLING TOOL Filed Dec. 27, 1938 6, 1940- B. F. WALKER, SR 2,210,824

ROTARY DRILLING TOOL Filed Dec. 27, 19158 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY DRILLING TOOL Benjamine F. Walker, Sr., Houston, Tex. Application December 27, 1938, Serial No. 247,929

11 Claims.

My invention relates to well wall tools and more particularly to that type wherein a plurality of such tools are adapted to be connected in a rotary well drilling device, one being located adjacent the drill bit, and the others located at selected places along the drill stem for contact with the wall of the bore of a well to guide the drill bit and drill stem in a straight perpendicular path when drilling the bore so that said bore will be straight and free of irregularities in the wall there of.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a well wall tool of the character described which may be readily connected in a rotary drilling device and is equipped with tool elements so constructed and arranged as to shear or remove obstructions left on the wall of the bore by the drill bit.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tool of the character described wherein the tool elements are so constructed and arranged as to have a compressing or mashing and smoothing or dressing action on the wall of the bore so that loose particles will be compressed or mashed solidly together and fill cavities in the wall to effect a dressed or smooth wall with a resultant true and round bore; and while said tool at the same time effects stabilization of the drill bit and stem thereof, it also aids in the forcing upwardly, in the well, the drill bit cleaning fluid and the substances carried thereby.

An important object of my invention is to provide a tool of the character described which is durable in use, emcient in operation, simple in construction and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my novel form of well wall tool.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of my invention.

Figure 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Figure 3 respectively.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the intermediate portion of the tool with the tool elements removed therefrom. I

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of .one of the tool elements.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevation of one of said tool elements.

Figure 9 is a top plan View of said tdol element.

Figures 10 and 11 are sectional views taken on the lines Ill-l0 and Hll of Figure 8 respectively.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of a modified form of my invention.

Figures 13 and 14 are sectional views taken on the lines l3--l3 and l4--|4 of Figure 12 respec-- tively.

In practicing my invention, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures lto 11 of the drawings, I provide a tool I formed with a bore 2 extending the full length thereof. One end of the tool is reduced and provided with external screw threads 3 and the other end is preferably provided with internal screw threads 3a.

The screw threads permit the connection of the tool into a drill bit stem of a rotary drilling device, the bore 2 acting to convey through the tool the usual liquid employed for cleaning the drill bit of said drilling device, the liquid being forced in under pressure so that the particles cut by the drill bit will be expelled upwardlly from the well. The tool I is of a substantially cylindrical configuration and of a selected length and has formed thereon an annular collar 4 fashioned with spacednotches forming seats 5.

A portion of the tool at a selected distance subjacent the collar 4 is provided with external screw threads 6 on which is threaded a retaining sleeve 1 acting to support a clamping collar 8. The collar 8 has formed in the inner circumferential wall thereof spaced grooves providing seats 9 coacting with the seats 5 to detachably secure and support about the tool, between the collar 4 and threads 6 thereof, a plurality of too1 elements l0 constituting combined bearing and cutting mediums. The tool, between the collar 4 and the threads 6, has formed therein grooves II which are equally spaced about the tool and have seated therein the tool elements In, the latter being arranged in opposed pairs. The ends of the elements are tapered, as shown at I2, to be received by'the seat's 5 and 9 and the rear faces of each of said elements are fashioned with a V-shaped rib Illa. fitting within asimilar- 1y shaped slot I la formed in the rear wall of each of said grooves ll.

. By threading the retaining sleeve 1 upwardly on the tool, the clamping collar 8 will be forced over the tapered ends of the elements and thereby firmly anchor said elements in their respective grooves. The grooves ll successively vary in depth so that it is only necessary when said elements wear to remove one therefrom and substitute in lieu thereof and-within the deepest groove a new bearing element, while the other elements are progressively transposed from the seats occupied thereby to the adjacent seats, thereby restoring the combined bearing and cutting mediums to a proper external diameter for proper contact with the wall of the well bore. The foregoing construction provides a means that will permit the tool elements .to be easily removed and adjusted from one groove to another as wear occurs thereon.

Each tool element includes in'its construction an angular facet l3 and a plurality of relatively spaced facets i4 each having a spiral pitch thereto. In other words, the facets II are of a spiral contour with their upper and lower edges following an arcuate line. The facet i3 acts as a shearing cutter and is adapted to have a shearing action on the walls of the well bore, while the facets H are provided with a bearing or dressing face IS. The bearing or dressing face I5 is struck on an arc of a circle, as clearly shown in Figure 2, whereby each face IE will have a leading end A and a trailing end B. The elements l0, when assembled on the tool, have the faces I5 arranged eccentrically to the axis of rotation of the tool.

Depressions or channels l6 are formed in the peripheral face of the tool between the side walls of the grooves l I and extend lengthwise of said tool to provide gutters for the cleaning liquid to pass through in an upward direction of the well bore. Due to the facets I having spiral pitches, they will serve to force the liquid upwardly in the well during their rotatable contact with the wall of the well bore. The facets l3 by a shearing action remove from the wall of the well bore protrusions left by the drill bit, while the facets l4, contacting the wall of the well and rotating relative thereto, have a dressing or smoothing and pressing action on the wall of the bore so that loose particles will be compressed and thereby fill cavities in the wall of said well bore.

In operation, the device is connected in a rotary drilling device adjacent the drill bit and it is to be understood that the drill bit stem may have connected therein similar devices at selected distances apart. The tool rotates in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 2 and the facets thereof having contact with the wall of the well bore shear protrusions therefrom and have compressing and dressing action on the wall so that the wall will be free of irregularities and of solid formation, thereby eliminating to a great extent the small particles usually removed from the well by the cleaning liquid under pressure. This construction and operation coacts with the drill bit to maximize the efficiency of the cutting action of said bit. The tool, contacting the wall of the well bore as described, will in no way hinder the upward fiow of the cleaning fluid and the particles carried thereby and will act to force said liquid upwardly when contacted by the facets l4 due to their spiral pitches.

The angular shaped facets I3, which are located near the lower end of the tool and on opposite sides thereof, will have a shearing effect as the tool is rotated on the wall of the well bore. The leading edges of these facets are preferably faced with a hard metal so that projections extending from the wall of the well will be readily sheared off. Through the use of facets of this kind no unnecessary material will be dug out of the wall and with the facets u trailing the facets l3 and acting on the wall of the well said wall will be dressed or smooth andround. The

facets l3 and I4 contacting the wall of the well during rotation of the tool act to stabilize the drill bit stem to prevent warping, wobbling or contortions thereof, consequently permitting the drill bit to cut or drill in a straight perpendicular path. The eccentricallyarranged bearing faces of the facets ll exert-a compressing or pushing and wedging force against the wall of the well thereby forcing back intothe wall any surplus or lose materials or cuttings, thus filling any cavities and solidifying the wall whereby the quantity of the cuttings or material to be removed from the well'by the cleaning liquid is minimized.

The eccentrically arranged faces of the facets ll also serve to crush and reduce to fine sediments any large pieces of material or cuttings, consequently permitting the cuttings to be more easily taken out by the cleaning liquid. The facets I being arranged in an upward angle of about 45 degrees to'the axis of rotation of the tool produces a lifting effect or force on the drill fluid, thereby aiding the usual pumps employed in the forcing of the cleaning liquid. The elements l0 being removable and adjustable from one groove of one depth to a groove of another depth permits the tool to be brought back to a proper gage by only renewing one of the elements l0. Through the use of this tool straighter wells may be drilled, deflection of the drillbit will be reduced to a minimum and the drill stem will be stabilized to free the same of distortion, wobbling and the like. Also, through the use of this tool the well wall will be solidified, caving reduced to a minimum, lesscuttings will be had in the well and consequently less to be removed therefrom by the cleaning fluid or liquid.

The tool materially reduces the time required to drill a well and the facets ll acting with centrifugal action aids the pumps and the cleaning.

fluid or liquid in the lifting of the liquids from the well along with the loose particles.

In the modified form of my invention illustrated in Figures 12 to 14 inclusive, the construction of the tool 20 thereof is principally distinguished over that of the preferred embodiment in that the tool elements 2| are integrally fashioned with the body of the tool, otherwise said elements 2| are of a like construction as the elements It. By thus forming the elements 2| integral with the body of the tool 20, a tool may be more economically constructed in that the retaining sleeve and clamping collar is eliminated as is likewise the work in the grooving of the tool. The operation of the modified form of the invention is the same as described in connection with the preferred form thereof.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein described use therefor as it may be utiilzed for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described, as the same is only illustrative of the principles of operation which are capable of extended application in advance forms, and that the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: 1. A well wall tool comprising a body including means for connecting said body to a rotary well drilling device, groups of seats on said bod 76 and one group of seats being fixed relative to the body and the othergroup of seats being adjustable relative to said body, said body having grooves arranged between the groups of seats,

elements having tapered ends received by said grooves with the tapered ends extending into said seats, facets formed on said elements and one facet of each element being of triangular shape to define a cutter and the other facets of; the element each having a spiral pitch and pro? vided with a bearing face arcuately curved arid arranged eccentrically of the longitudinal axis of rotation of the body.

2. A well wall tool comprising a body including means for connecting said body to a rotary well drilling device, groups of seats on said body and one group of seats being fixed relative to the body and the other group of seats being adjustable relative to the body, said body having grooves arranged between the groups of seats, elements having tapered ends ,received by said grooves with the tapered ends extending into said seats, facets formed on said elements and one facet of each element being of triangular shape to define a cutter and the ,other facets of the element each having a spiral pitch and provided with a bearing face arcuately curved and arranged eccentrically of the longitudinal axis of rotation of the body, said grooves varying in depth to permit regaging of the facets as they wear by the renewal of one of said elements and the rearrangement of the other elements from one groove to another.

3. A well wall tool comprising a body including means for connecting said body to a rotary well drilling device and provided with a bore extending from end to end, a flange formed on said body and having spaced seats, a clamping collar, loosely mounted on said body and having seats, a retaining collar threaded on said body to engage the clamping collar for the adjustment thereof on the body, said body having grooves, elements received by said grooves and having tapered ends to engage in the seats, facets formed on said elements and one facet of eachelement being of triangular shape to define a cutter and the other facets of said elements each having a spiral pitch and a bearing face arcuately curved and arranged eccentrically to the axis of rotation of the body.

4. A well wall tool comprising a body including means for connecting said body to a rotary well drilling device, groups of seats on said body and one group of seats being fixed relative to the body and the other group of seats being adjustable relative to said body, said body having grooves arranged between the groups of seats, elements having tapered ends received by said grooves with the tapered ends extending into said seats, facets formed on said elements with at least one of the facets of each element being of an angular configuration to define a shearing cutter and other facets of the elements each having a spiral pitch and provided with a bearing face arcuately curved and arranged eccentrically of the longitudinal axis of rotation of the body.

5. A well wall tool comprising a body including means for connecting said body to a rotary well drilling device, groups of seats on said body and one group of seats being fixed relative to the body and the other group of seats being adjustable relative to the body, said body having grooves arranged between the groups of seats, elements having tapered ends received by said grooves with the tapered ends extending into said seats,

facets formed on said elements and one facet of each element being of an angular configuration to define a shearing cutter and the other facets of the elements having a spiral pitch and provided with a bearing face arcuately curved and arranged eccentrically of the longitudinal axis of rotation of the body, said grooves vary ing in depth to permit regaging of the facets as they wear by'the renewal of one of said elements and the rearrangement of the other elements from one groove to another.

6. A well wall tool comprising a body including means for connecting said body to a rotary well drilling device and provided with a bore extending from end to end, a flange formed on said body and having spaced seats, a clamping collar loosely mounted on said body and having seats, a retaining collar threaded on said body to engage the clamping collar for the adjustment thereof on the body, said body having grooves, elements received by said grooves and having tapered ends to engage in the seats, facets formed on said elements with at least one of the facets of each element being of angular shape to de: fine a shearing cutter and other facets of said elements having a spiral pitch and a bearing 'face arcuately curved and arranged eccentrically to the axis of rotation of the body.

7. A well wall tool element comprising an elonated body having a front face fashioned with a plurality of relatively spaced outwardly disposed facetsfor rotative engag ment with the wall of a Welland each havin a leading and trailing side, one of said facets having a pair of converging edges arranged in spaced relation at its trailing side and effecting jointure with each other at its leading side and with said leading side disposed substantially the same distance from said face as its trailing side to define a shearing cutter to shear projections from said wall, other of said facets each having its trailing side arranged a greater distance from s id face than its leading side to define therebetween a bearing face disposed eccentrically of the major axis of the body to effect compressing engagement with said wall to dress the latter after shearing engagement of the cutter with said wall.

8. A well wall tool having means for connecting the same to a rotary well drilling device and equipped with spaced tool elements each formed with an elongated body having a front face fashioned with a plurality of relatively spaced outwardly disposed facets for rotative engagement with the wall of a well and each having a leading and trailing side, one of said facets having a pair of converging edges arranged in spaced relation at its trailing side and effecting jointure with each other at its leading side and with said leading side disposed substantially the same distance from said face as its trailing side to define a shearing cutter to shear projections from said wall, other of said facets each having its trailing side arranged a greater distance from said face than its leading side to define therebetween 2. bearing face disposed eccentrically of the major axis of the body to effect compressing engagement with said wall to dress the latter after shearing engagement of the cutter with said wall.

9. A well wall tool comprising a body including means for connecting said body to a rotary well drilling device and provided with groups of seats with one group being fixed and the other group adjustable relative to said body, said body provided with grooves arranged between said groups of seats, tool elements disposed in said grooves and having ends extending into said seats, each 01' said elements formed with an elongated body having a front face fashioned with a plurality of relatively spaced outwardly disposed facets for rotative engagement with the wall of a well and each having a leading and trailing side, one of said facets having a pair of converging edges arranged in spaced relation at its trailing side and effecting jointure with each other at its leading side and with said leading side disposed substantially the same distance from said face as its trailing side to define a shearing cutter to shear projections from said wall, other of said facets each having its trailing side arranged a greater distance from said face than its leading side to define therebetween a bearing face disposed eccentrically of the major axis of the body to effect compressing engagement with said wall to dress the latter after shearing engagement of the cutter with said wall.

10. An elongated well wall tool equipped with lengthwise disposed tool elements defining therebetween material discharge gutters, each of said tool elements formed with an elongated body having a front face fashioned with a plurality of outwardly disposed facets for rotative engagement with the wall of a well and each having a leading and trailing side, one of said facets having a pair of converging edges arranged in spaced relation at its trailing side and effecting jointure with each other at its leading side and with said leading side disposed substantially the same distance from said face as its trailing side to define a shearing cutter to shear projections from said wall, other of said facets each having its trailing side arranged a greater distance from engagement with said wall to dress the latter after shearing engagement of the cutter with said wall, all of said facets spaced relative to each other to define channels therebetween for receiving the projections sheared from said wall by said cutter and said channels communicating with said gutters for effecting discharge of said sheared projections into said gutters.

11. A well wall tool element comprising an elongated body having a front face fashioned with a plurality of outwardly disposed facets for rotative engagement with the wall of a well and each having a leading and trailing side, one of said facets having a pair of converging edges arranged in spaced relation at its trailing side and effecting jointure with each other at its leading side and with said leading side disposed substantially the same distance from said face as its trailing side to define a shearing cutter to shear projections from said wall, other of said facets each having its trailing side arranged a greater distance from said face than its leading side to define therebetween a bearing face disposed eccentrically of the major axis of the body to effect compressing engagement with said wall to dress the latter after shearing engagement of the cutter with said wall, all of said facets spaced relative to each other to define transversely disposed channels therebetween for receiving shearings from said wall to effect discharge of said shearings longitudinally with respect to said body and in a direction away from said cutter.

BENJAMENE F. WALKER, SR. 

